Find answers about the Handbook of Your Life® System, choosing the right kit, placing an order, completing your handbook, using 2DocLock™ and accessing support.
Browse through each section below to find the information you need. If your question is not covered, please contact us and we will help.
About the Handbook System
It brings the legal, personal and practical sides of end-of-life planning together in one organised system, reducing the amount of searching, uncertainty and guesswork left for others.
Every Handbook Kit includes:
- A professionally printed, tabbed handbook in a durable zip-around folder
- Document sleeves for copies and supporting information
- The 2DocLock™ Security System
- A Welcome Pack
- A Completion Tracker & Notes Companion
- Access to the Customer Resources Portal
- Free ongoing Loved Ones Support for your nominated person
The Welcome Pack also includes getting-started guidance, an Appendix Guide, Additional Information Pages and a Favourite Recipes Book.
For more information, please view About the System ➜
The exact sections depend on the kit selected, but your handbook may help you organise:
- Funeral wishes and personal preferences
- Will, Enduring Power of Attorney and other legal document details
- Important contacts
- Financial accounts, superannuation, insurance, loans and tax information
- Household bills, utilities, providers and subscriptions
- Children, dependants, pets and care arrangements
- Digital accounts and online services
- Keys, important documents and stored belongings
- Personal messages, memories, traditions and keepsakes
Your handbook also contains an appendix and document sleeves for supporting information and copies of important documents.
No. A Handbook of Your Life is not a Will, Will Kit or legal document.
It works alongside your Will, Enduring Power of Attorney, Advance Health Directive and other professional documents by organising the personal and practical information those documents do not normally contain.
The handbook does not replace legal, financial, medical or other professional advice.
No. You can begin organising your information even if your legal documents are not yet complete.
Your handbook may help identify documents or decisions that still need attention. Legal documents should be prepared or reviewed by an appropriately qualified professional where required.
No. The handbook can be useful during everyday life, illness, treatment, incapacity, emergencies or any period when someone else needs to step in and manage practical matters.
End-of-life planning is an important part of the system, but the handbook is also designed to make personal and household information easier to manage now.
No. Illness, accidents and incapacity can happen at any age.
Different kits have been created for singles, couples, parents, carers, people preparing for health events and business owners. The best time to organise important information is before someone urgently needs it.
Handbook Kits are professionally printed and supplied in a durable, ring-bound zip folder. They are not simply downloadable templates.
The printed format allows you to hand-write information, insert additional pages and store copies of important documents together. Digital support materials and extra printable pages are available through the Customer Resources Portal.
Choosing a Handbook Kit
Choose the kit that most closely reflects the people, responsibilities and circumstances in your life:
- Singles Kit: For an individual organising their own personal and household affairs.
- Couples Kit: For partners who need clear information if either person must take over.
- Couples with Children Kit: For partners with children or dependants whose care and routines also need to be documented.
- Single Parents Kit: For a parent managing children, household responsibilities and practical affairs without a partner in the home.
- Carers Kit: For someone responsible for the ongoing care of another person.
- Health Event Kit: For illness, surgery, treatment, flare-ups or recovery periods when life still needs to run.
- Business Kit: For business owners who need to document operations, access information and continuity arrangements.
Modules can be added where additional children, care responsibilities or health events need to be covered.
Choose the Single Parents Kit if you are responsible for a child or dependant whose care, routines, schooling, medical needs and practical arrangements must be documented.
The Singles Kit is generally more suitable when you are organising your own affairs and do not have dependent children living under your care.
The Couples Kit focuses on the personal, household and practical affairs of two partners.
The Couples with Children Kit also contains dedicated sections for children and dependants, including care arrangements, routines, education, health information, important contacts, pets, activities and family traditions.
The Couples Kit allows each partner’s information and wishes to be recorded while also documenting shared household matters.
Where information is separate, complete the relevant pages for each person. Where it is shared, record how the account, service, responsibility or document is managed between you.
Alternatively, you could each maintain your own Singles Kit, especially if you live separately.
The Carers Kit is designed for someone whose absence would affect the ongoing care of another person.
This may include caring for an aging parent, partner, adult child, relative or other dependant. It records both your own affairs and the care recipient’s routines, needs, contacts, preferences and practical arrangements.
If you are single and care for more than one person, you can expand your Carers Kit using a Care Recipient Module for each additional care recipient.
End-of-life planning kits prepares information primary for the use by loved ones following the passing of the handbook owner.
The Health Event Kit focuses on current medical events and recovery. It helps organise medications, providers, care instructions, appointments, household responsibilities, children, pets and other information someone may need during treatment or a medical crisis.
The two systems can work alongside one another. If you already have an end-of-life planning kit and a health event arises, you can simply add the Event Tracking Module to your existing handbook.
The Business Kit is designed for business owners who need another person to understand how the business operates during their temporary or permanent absence.
It can help document important contacts, systems, access arrangements, providers, recurring responsibilities and business continuity information.
This kit sits alongside your personal end-of-life planning handbook.
Families and responsibilities are rarely as tidy as product menus would have us believe.
Start with the kit that most closely reflects your main circumstances, then add Child, Care Recipient or Event Tracking Modules as needed.
Contact us if your circumstances are more complex and you need help selecting the most appropriate combination.
Ordering, Payment & Delivery
You can order through the Handbook of Your Life website by selecting your preferred kit, adding any modules or services and completing the checkout process.
Orders may also be placed with us at participating talks, seminars, community events and expos.
- PayPal
- Visa
- Mastercard
- American Express
- Google Pay
- Apple Pay
- Direct deposit
At talks, seminars and expos, you can pay by cash or card through Square. We can also help you place an order through the website.
PayPal Pay in 4 may be available to eligible customers when offered by PayPal at checkout.
Eligibility and repayments are managed by PayPal and are subject to its terms and approval process.
Handbook of Your Life does not directly store your card details. Online payments are processed through established third-party payment providers.
The website uses SSL encryption to help protect information transmitted through the site. Please refer to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service for further information.
Free standard shipping applies to all Australian orders valued at more than $79. This includes all full Handbook Kits.
Orders under $79, such as an individual module purchased separately, attract a flat standard shipping charge shown at checkout.
For more information, please view our Shipping Policy ➜
Standard Australia Post delivery is generally estimated at three to five business days after dispatch, depending on your location.
Delivery may take longer during peak periods, in regional areas or where Australia Post experiences delays.
Yes. All physical orders are sent through Australia Post with tracking.
You will receive a tracking email after your parcel has been lodged.
Yes. An Express Post upgrade is available at checkout for a flat fee.
Express delivery is generally estimated at one to three business days to most areas after dispatch, subject to the Australia Post Express network.
Yes. You can purchase a Handbook Kit for someone else if you know which kit suits their circumstances.
An eGift Card is another option if you would prefer the recipient to select their own kit, modules or assistance services. eGift Cards are delivered by email and do not expire.
Printed Handbook Kits are produced to order. Once a kit has been printed and dispatched, change-of-mind refunds are not available.
Your rights under the Australian Consumer Law continue to apply. Please read our Refunds and Returns Policy before ordering for complete information.
If your parcel appears lost or arrives damaged, notify us within seven days of the expected delivery date or receipt.
Orders under $100
Check the Australia Post tracking information first. For orders under $100, you may need to make a claim with Australia Post directly.
Orders over $100
Orders valued at $100 or more include additional transit cover, and we will assist with the Australia Post investigation and claim process where applicable.
For more information, please view our Shipping Policy ➜
Completing & Updating Your Handbook
Begin with the Welcome Pack and getting-started information included with your kit.
Then look through the handbook, mark the sections you can complete immediately and use the Completion Tracker & Notes Companion to record information or documents that still need to be gathered. You do not need to complete everything in one sitting.
Before entering information into your handbook, log in to the Customer Resources Portal, open Video Guides and watch the two short 2DocLock™ videos. This will help you understand how the system works and decide whether you want to use it.
Log in to My Account using the email address and password created at checkout. If you purchased your handbook elsewhere, visit the My Account page to register your handbook before logging in.
The time required depends on your circumstances and how readily available your information is.
Set aside a few hours initially to complete the straightforward sections and identify anything still needing attention. Working in smaller sessions across a week or several weeks can make the process much easier.
No. Each handbook covers a broad range of possible circumstances, and not every page will apply to every person.
Complete the sections relevant to you. Where helpful, write “Not applicable” so a loved one knows the page was considered rather than accidentally missed.
Yes. A partner, adult child, trusted friend, carer or professional may help you gather information or work through relevant sections.
You should personally review the completed information and make sure it accurately reflects your circumstances and wishes.
It helps you:
- Mark completed sections
- Record tasks still needing attention
- List documents or information to gather
- Keep notes and reminders together
- Break the process into manageable stages
Yes. Your handbook is designed to change as your life changes.
Update it after major events such as moving home, changing relationships, welcoming a child, taking on a care responsibility, changing employment, opening or closing accounts or updating legal documents.
For ease of changing content, we recommend that you complete your handbook in pencil so information can easily be erased and replaced.
Review your handbook at least once each year and whenever there is a significant change in your life.
Even a quick review can confirm that contact details, accounts, providers, nominees, passwords, care instructions and stored documents are still current.
Additional Information Pages are included in your Welcome Pack, and more pages can be downloaded through the Customer Resources Portal.
You can replace a page, add extra information or use the appendix rather than squeezing corrections into an already crowded space.
Completing your handbook in pencil also enables mistakes to be easily corrected.
- Welcome Pack resources
- Instructions explaining how the system works
- 2DocLock™ guidance and videos
- Step-by-step video guides
- Free additional handbook pages
- Loved Ones Support information
- Helpdesk access
- Order and account information
Online customers can access the portal through MyAccount. Customers who purchased elsewhere can register through the My Account page.
Store the handbook somewhere protected but accessible to the trusted person who may need it.
Do not hide it so successfully that nobody can find it. Tell at least one trusted person that the handbook exists and where it is stored.
Whether you should store original legal documents in the handbook depends on your personal arrangements and any professional advice you have received. At minimum, clearly record which documents exist and where the originals are held. You may choose to store copies in the relevant Appendix or Legal Documents sections.
The handbook includes document sleeves for copies and supporting documents.
Whether original legal documents should be stored in the handbook depends on your personal arrangements and any professional advice you have received. At minimum, clearly record what documents exist and where the originals are held. You may feel it relevant to store copies of documents in the handbook, within the relevant Appendix or Legal Documents sections.
2DocLock™ Security System
2DocLock™ is the purpose-built security system included with every Handbook of Your Life® Kit.
It helps you organise passwords, PINs and other sensitive access information without placing the complete details together in the main handbook.
We strongly advise against this.
Passwords, PINs, security answers and other sensitive access information should not be written directly in the handbook.
2DocLock™ uses coded references and a separate Security Manager, with an optional ICS List for the Enhanced Method.
Sensitive information is separated across more than one document. Each document holds only part of what is needed, so finding the handbook alone does not automatically provide complete access to your accounts or other sensitive information.
No. 2DocLock™ operates completely offline.
It does not require an app, cloud account, third-party server or ongoing subscription. You remain responsible for storing and maintaining the physical documents.
The Essential Method keeps passwords out of the handbook and records them in the separate Security Manager.
The Enhanced Method builds on the Essential Method by also using an ICS List (a decoder document). This separates the coded references from their meaning and provides an additional layer of protection.
Step-by-step video guides for both methods are available through the Customer Resources Portal.
Under the Essential Method, the handbook and Security Manager should be stored in separate locations.
Under the Enhanced Method, the handbook, Security Manager and ICS List should each be stored separately for the greatest protection.
Alternatively, you can store the ICS List with your handbook and the Security Manager separately, but for the greatest protection, all three documents should be stored in separate locations.
At least one trusted nominee should know that the system exists and understand where the separate 2DocLock™ documents can be found when genuinely needed.
That person does not necessarily need immediate access to the documents, but they should know where your handbook and the separate documents are stored so they are not left trying to reconstruct the system during a crisis.
When 2DocLock™ is used correctly, the handbook should not contain complete passwords, sensitive access information or even the locations of important documents.
Finding or stealing the handbook alone should therefore not provide enough information to access your accounts or other sensitive information. You should still keep the handbook protected and review any affected accounts if it is lost or stolen.
2DocLock™ is designed to reduce the single point of exposure created when passwords, account details, document locations and instructions are all stored together. Its effectiveness depends on using the system correctly, keeping documents separate and limiting access to trusted people.
No. You complete and retain your own physical handbook and 2DocLock™ documents.
Your completed personal affairs information and passwords are not uploaded to the Customer Resources Portal. Never send passwords, PINs or complete security information to Handbook of Your Life when requesting support.
Loved Ones Support
It is a personal affairs document prepared by someone who trusted you to use it if they were unable to manage their own affairs or after they died.
It contains personal, household and practical information that may help you understand their wishes, locate important documents and manage the tasks ahead.
Open the handbook and, after the first colour page, read the “Nominated Person” message.
Next, go to the first section of the handbook, “Upon My Passing”. This section is not included in the Health Event Kit. It contains information about the Will, death-related insurance and funeral details.
Then use the Table of Contents to locate immediate information about:
- Important contacts
- Children, dependants or pets, if applicable
- Legal documents
- The home and household
- The appendix and supporting documents
- Any 2DocLock™ instructions
You do not need to work through every page at once.
The codes form part of the 2DocLock™ Security System the handbook owner may have chosen to use.
If 2DocLock™ applies, you may also have been given the Security Manager or told where it is stored. An additional ICS List may also apply under the Enhanced Method.
The Loved Ones Support video guides explain how the documents work together.
This may be the first time you have seen it, or it may have been explained to you some time ago.
Use the Loved Ones Support request form to receive access to the private guidance page and video guides. These explain how to navigate the handbook and use the security documents where applicable.
A blank section may mean it was not relevant, was still being worked on or the information was stored elsewhere.
Check for notes, additional pages, appendix references and supporting documents. Where uncertainty remains, speak with other trusted people or the relevant qualified professional rather than making assumptions.
Submit the request form on the Loved Ones Support page.
You will receive an email containing the private support page link and access password. Check your Junk or Spam folder if it does not appear in your inbox.
The email should normally arrive within a few minutes.
Check Junk or Spam and allow up to 15 minutes for possible email delays. If it still does not arrive, submit the form again or contact us.
You may share the private page link and password with immediate family members who are directly helping to manage the person’s affairs.
Please protect the access details and do not distribute them more widely. The videos are intended for the nominated person, executor or family members actively using the handbook.
Loved Ones Support is free and available for as long as the nominated person needs help understanding the handbook and 2DocLock™ Security System.
There is no subscription fee or expiry period.
No. Loved Ones Support helps you understand the Handbook of Your Life® System and locate information recorded by the handbook owner.
We do not interpret Wills, advise on estate distribution or provide legal, financial, tax or medical advice. Qualified professionals should be consulted where required.
Modules & Family Circumstances
Modules are additional sections designed to extend a Handbook of Your Life® System for particular people, responsibilities or events.
They allow your handbook to grow as your circumstances change without requiring you to replace or rewrite the entire system.
View here for our range of Handbook Modules ➜
The current module range includes:
Each module is structured for its particular purpose and works with the wider Handbook of Your Life® System.
Yes. Modules can be added when your life or responsibilities change.
For example, you may add a Child Module after welcoming a child, a Care Recipient Module after taking on a care role or an Event Tracking Module during treatment or a health event.
The Care Recipient Module and Event Tracking Module can be used as standalone systems or alongside an existing handbook.
The Child Module is generally used to expand an existing Handbook Kit where information for the first or additional child needs to be recorded.
The Child Module provides dedicated space to record information about one child, including:
- Health Profile
- Likes & Dislikes
- Education and employment details
- Activities and memberships
- Important documents
- Government-related information
- Digital life
- Extra information as required
Separate modules can be used where information for more than one additional child needs to be documented.
You can further expand the Child Module by using the relevant free printables from the Customer Resources Portal as needed.
The Care Recipient Module helps document the care needs, routines, providers, preferences and daily realities of someone who depends on you.
It may be used for an aging parent, partner, adult child, relative or other person receiving ongoing care.
The Event Tracking Module provides a structured way to record a health event as it develops.
It can help track appointments, treatments, changes, instructions, follow-up tasks, questions, progress and information that needs to be shared with family or carers.
This module can be:
- Used as a standalone planning tool
- Added to your existing end-of-life planning handbook
- Used to replace the Event Tracking pages in your Health Event Kit when recording a new health event
You can add multiple modules where separate information is needed for different people or circumstances.
Start with the main Handbook Kit that best reflects your household, then use modules to document each additional responsibility clearly rather than combining unrelated information and hoping everyone can untangle it later.
If you are not certain what to order or you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
STILL HAVE A QUESTION?
Every household and family is different. If you are unsure which Handbook Kit or modules best suit your circumstances, or need help with an order, please contact us.
We will help you identify the most appropriate starting point without selling you sections you do not need.
